System for preventing the formation of ice on aircraft



Nov. 18 1930. F. QKIN STRY 1,782,072

SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF ICE ON AIRCRAFT Filed June 19, 1928 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 m: 10111181533, or 11mm, c

sxsrmr ron rnxvmmq THE roan-r1011 or ICE on AIRCRAFT Application filed June 19,

This invention relates to improvements in aircraft and has reference more particularly to a system forthe prevention of the accumulation of ice upon the exposed surfaces 5 thereof, the main objectof the invention being the provision of means whereby the exhaust from the engine is utilized for this purpose.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pipe system supported by the various exposed portions of the airplane, either of the biplane or monoplane type, and in which the exhaust is so conducted as to heat the exposed surfaces to raise the temperature thereof above the freezing point, and thus prevent the accumulation upon the surface of the airplane of ice.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an airplane showing in dotted lines one method of installing the present invention;

. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through one of the wings adjacent the aileron thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view adjacent the fuselage and one of the supporting struts between the wings of a biplane;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the meth- 0d of connecting the pipes to conduct the exhaust gases;

Figure 5 is adetail view showing the arrangement of the pipe adjacent the in-take part of the exhaust adjacent the motor and the means for controlling the same; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe wing and aileron showing the method of mounting the present device therein. d Referring to the drawings, the numeral 7 es1 of t e present biplane type of'airplane, although it is to be understood that the present. arrangement is for use upon any. other of airplanes, it being essential thatthe ex- 45 haust from the engine be so used as to dis? tribute heat throughout the exposed surface of both the fuselage and wings as well as the ailerons 11 and the vertical rudder 12 and the horizontal elevators 13 of the plane.

The engine 14 is mounted as usual and is hallsttot ates the fuselage and 8 and 9 the wings types 1m, :lerial I0. $86,681, provided with the exhaust manifold 15 which is indicative of any type that may be emthrough the instrumentality of the lever control means 18 be moved into and out of regisv tration with the main exhaust of the engine. At the rear end of this distributor is a plurality of ipes 19 adapted to direct the exhe various portions of the airplane body and wings, as heretofore described. In the present instance, one of these pipes is connected through the strut 21 which leads .to the upper wing and through the lateral i s 22 and the ailerons through a universal .70 ]o1nt 23 and, finally, the outlet 24 at the edge of the ailerons. Another pi leads to the installation 25 carried-by t e lower win with the fixed exhaust 26. A third pipe 2 extends along the fuselage and is branched 7,5

at the rear end thereof into the branches 28 and 29 which lead, respectively, to the-vertical rudder and the horizontal elevators andv exhaust at the rear tips thereof.

From the foregoing description, it is evlso dent that the present device may be readily installed on any type of airplane, that they same is operable at the will of the operator to be placed in heat-directing osition wheneverit is desired in reaching igh altitudes in thesummertime, or for work in Wintertime, and that with the distributing ipe so arra'ngedthroughout and adjacent t e skin surface of the various elements, such surface will bemaintained at a temperature above the freezing point'by the easiest accessible heating means, the -exhaust,-so that the for-. mation of ice upon the surface will be prevented.

It is also evident that byslight changes in as,

contour of the-heat-distributm pipes, the exterior surface of dirigibles can heated to prevent the, accumulation of snow and me upon the exterior surface of the ag or bag f :00

covering.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with an airplane, exhaust manifold of an engine within the airplane and a heating system for. distributing exhaust from the manifold throughout the plane, of a guide located at one side of the exhaust manifold, a movable distributor head telescopically engaged in the system and communicating with the exhaust manifold, a slider su porting the head, and means within reach of an operator of the plane' to permit the head to be shifted with respect to the manifold, said manifold being superposed relative to said head, whereby the latter can travel beneath the manifold.

2. The combination with an airplane, exhaust manifold of an engine within the airplane and a heating system for utilizin exhaust for distribution throughout said plane, of a guide located at one side of the manifold, a movable distributor head telescopically engaged in the system and communicating with the manifold, a slider.v supporting the head, an operating lever having connection with the slider to permit the head to be shifted with respect to the exhaust manifold, said manifold being superposed relative to said head, whereby the latter can travel beneath the manifold, and means for latching the lever in shifted positions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

, FRANK MQKINSTRY. 

